Accelerated Productivity. WOW. I have to say I feel immensely organised!! It was a WADE to get through all my notes to myself and things I start up doing or wanting to do, but it has been done. Processed. Simplified.
check this. I have inboxes at zero (and a method, which is simple as pie) of managing them. My calendars and my iphone talk to each other and sync up and I have this super little moleskine which has all my projects listed (currently on the go) and all the back burner projects (soooo many...) and all my 'to do' lists are actions and are grouped into contexts. @computer @errands @YogaTeacherTraining... etc. So if I randomly think of something I must ask my yoga teacher at class, I can make a note of it and remember to ask it. Or when I talk to the accountant I have a comprehensive list of all I need to ask him.
I am all set up with a clever little application
I do now see the point of the project files and am hankering after the filing system in which to put all my project plans, as sometimes my planning gets a bit muddled up with my next actions.... but setting this up is in my lists.
It really does feel very clever and ORGANISED. Get me. I have to do a weekly review, without fail, or the whole system collapses. But I am very motivated and for the next week or so I will have People Who Do on my case about this. Of course life has it that I am away on holiday again next week. So the major part of this accelerated productivity will kick in come September. But hey, watch this space.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
gratitudes...
This is part of my 100 days thing....
At least 5 things I am grateful for today
The little pop up shop run by Beth and Sophie down the road at the Fanny's cafe. I spent just about what got from Beth on 4 tops for Bub, but ooh they are good ones. And at the end of the day I could probably flog em again for what I paid for them.... genius. Beth and Sophie have such good taste.
Swimming with friends. 3 of us mums and 3 little boys all swimming and then afterwards for a bit of a treat slap up meal at Pizza Express. Oops. There goes the financial tracking..
no, here is goes
£3.90 swimming
£1 parking
£20 pizza express
£15.50 I still own on tee shirts at the cafe
£13 on the new one which is gorgeous and hand printed....
£6 on the little Boden one with blue and white stripes.
£1.60 on snacks in cafe.
eek £61. oops
OK it was a lot, but that is what I spent today - YAY I kept my word on the tracking!
I am (consequently) deeply grateful that a client has put Hub's invoice through the accounting system and it is due to be paid before the end of August. Phew! Thanks!!
I am very grateful for the opportunity from People Who Do. I am cherishing it and putting my all into it. It is good.
I am grateful to my lovely friend CVP and her folks who have invited me and Bub to stay for a week at their fab place in France at the end of August. (they did invite Hub too, but he didn't want to go.)
SO I am grateful that Hub doesn't mind that we go even if he isn't (at least we are not missing his birthday this year!)
I am actually very grateful for our way of life. Despite it being a bit pinchy this month, to be honest, its not affecting anything. We have got potential and opportunity to earn more, and yet we are so not in the rat race. WE have friends who both have full on full time jobs and hardly ever see their children or get time off, or time to do anything much other than work and stress. And they don't actually have that much more than we do bar a bigger house and bigger car. Heck we wear designer clothes (only ours are second hand!!)
I am actually grateful our car got bashed into. Because that insurance check is seriously bailing us out htis month (we don't need to dip into our reserves!) and also, because we have a smaller, cheaper to run car because of that. And we went car less for a year. And saved a lot of energy as a result.
Ooh I like this gratitude thinking! it totally makes you focus on all the good bits in your life. Its not as if I couldn't moan about things, but thinking like this is So Much Better! I am getting pretty proud of our achievements and how cool and fab our life is. I mean, I am about to go off on my 4th holiday this year. Cool! 2 more and I will be up to the 6 per year which is a life ambition!
OK I am pretty happy with all that. Rock ON.
At least 5 things I am grateful for today
The little pop up shop run by Beth and Sophie down the road at the Fanny's cafe. I spent just about what got from Beth on 4 tops for Bub, but ooh they are good ones. And at the end of the day I could probably flog em again for what I paid for them.... genius. Beth and Sophie have such good taste.
Swimming with friends. 3 of us mums and 3 little boys all swimming and then afterwards for a bit of a treat slap up meal at Pizza Express. Oops. There goes the financial tracking..
no, here is goes
£3.90 swimming
£1 parking
£20 pizza express
£15.50 I still own on tee shirts at the cafe
£13 on the new one which is gorgeous and hand printed....
£6 on the little Boden one with blue and white stripes.
£1.60 on snacks in cafe.
eek £61. oops
OK it was a lot, but that is what I spent today - YAY I kept my word on the tracking!
I am (consequently) deeply grateful that a client has put Hub's invoice through the accounting system and it is due to be paid before the end of August. Phew! Thanks!!
I am very grateful for the opportunity from People Who Do. I am cherishing it and putting my all into it. It is good.
I am grateful to my lovely friend CVP and her folks who have invited me and Bub to stay for a week at their fab place in France at the end of August. (they did invite Hub too, but he didn't want to go.)
SO I am grateful that Hub doesn't mind that we go even if he isn't (at least we are not missing his birthday this year!)
I am actually very grateful for our way of life. Despite it being a bit pinchy this month, to be honest, its not affecting anything. We have got potential and opportunity to earn more, and yet we are so not in the rat race. WE have friends who both have full on full time jobs and hardly ever see their children or get time off, or time to do anything much other than work and stress. And they don't actually have that much more than we do bar a bigger house and bigger car. Heck we wear designer clothes (only ours are second hand!!)
I am actually grateful our car got bashed into. Because that insurance check is seriously bailing us out htis month (we don't need to dip into our reserves!) and also, because we have a smaller, cheaper to run car because of that. And we went car less for a year. And saved a lot of energy as a result.
Ooh I like this gratitude thinking! it totally makes you focus on all the good bits in your life. Its not as if I couldn't moan about things, but thinking like this is So Much Better! I am getting pretty proud of our achievements and how cool and fab our life is. I mean, I am about to go off on my 4th holiday this year. Cool! 2 more and I will be up to the 6 per year which is a life ambition!
OK I am pretty happy with all that. Rock ON.
Monday, 15 August 2011
monday 15 August. Day 2
I did LOADS of receipts today while I was working at the gallery. Its a mountain to climb, but Hub's 2011 are nearly utterly done, and some of 2012 are done as well. If I get to work there again on Wednesday then I reckon I could enter most of mine too. I will feel twenty tonnes lighter when this task is ticked off my list. Not only that but the plan is that I am going to keep a bit more on top of it in future so it never gets to be this monumentally challenging. ooof.
I rang my friend Piers Gibbon to discuss how to sell People Who Do. He hadn't sold his consultancy skills as it happened, but was aware of GTD having been done himself. And had some splendid ideas. TICK
Am continuing to gather 'things that bother me, that I have agreed (even with myself) to do, stuff I need to do, projects unfinished etc etc' for processing on Thursday. My day of 'being done'.....
I am starting to be more aware of making commitments (100 days of small ways to improve my life? Agreeing to liaise and co motivate Swirly Girl e.g) Have written both these things down on my list.
Oh yes, and blog regularly, and learn how google+ and linkedin work. ooof again.
I rang my friend Piers Gibbon to discuss how to sell People Who Do. He hadn't sold his consultancy skills as it happened, but was aware of GTD having been done himself. And had some splendid ideas. TICK
Am continuing to gather 'things that bother me, that I have agreed (even with myself) to do, stuff I need to do, projects unfinished etc etc' for processing on Thursday. My day of 'being done'.....
I am starting to be more aware of making commitments (100 days of small ways to improve my life? Agreeing to liaise and co motivate Swirly Girl e.g) Have written both these things down on my list.
Oh yes, and blog regularly, and learn how google+ and linkedin work. ooof again.
Sunday, 14 August 2011
60 small ways to improve your life over the next 100 days
day one will be tomorrow then. the list was forwarded to me via facebook. its here in its original. (NB have just had it pointed out to me that the comments on it are pretty funny to read too. so check them out) and for the record AM SO NOT GOING TO DO ALL OF THEM!
I particularly like the go around the house and make note of the things you are tolerating, and SORT EM (oven door? your time has come).
On Thursday I am going to get done at People Who Do. Its all about making sure that all the things you set out to do, even, and especially if you never ever get around to them. And OH. Blimey I have just added 60 small things to that list. DOH!. actually. I am not interested in the whole 60. I don't watch tv or drink fizzy drinks, for example. But there are a few which I am going to run with. Some I have tried before, so hopefully that aint going to be too much of a struggle.
So my focus here will be on making sure I capture ALL the unfinished business, stuff that needs sorting, stuff I am only tolerating things out, and work my way through them... according to my PWD principles (to be learnt / experienced) on Thursday...
Decluttering (all part of my be more efficient and have less to tidy up plan - ongoing - (ongoing forever.....?!?!)
Being grateful. 5 things a day.
getting up 1 minute earlier every day (in conjunction with the getting Bub to go to sleep earlier plan)
tracking expenses (have been a wasteful fool of late, no more! no more!)
I like the idea of keeping a change pot for 100 days and seeing how much goes in it. I kind of do that already, so will definately do one of those.
Here goes with the gratitude
1. I have great hair (its really working for me the last couple of days. gotta appreciate that!)
2. I got some good opportunities to earn money to pay back our mortgage
3. got a roof over our heads and its a good one.
4. I have a beautiful necklace on
5. Hub is the kind of fellow who plays spaceships and landing on different imaginary planets with Bub for hours
Now to set the alarm clock. We had a respectable 7.50am this morning. 7.49. Lets see how that goes.
DO YOGA (no joke this NEEDS to be done. can't really believe am being such a slacker in this. I LOVE Yoga!)
and below is the cut n paste version. its too long I know.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to make drastic changes in order to notice an improvement in the quality of your life. At the same time, you don’t need to wait a long time in order to see the measurable results that come from taking positive action. All you have to do is take small steps, and take them consistently, for a period of 100 days.
Below you’ll find 60 small ways to improve all areas of your life in the next 100 days.
5. Make a list of 20 small things that you enjoy doing, and make sure that you do at least one of these things every day for the next 100 days. Your list can include things such as the following:
7. For the next 100 days, have a good laugh at least once a day: get one of those calendars that has a different joke for every day of the year, or stop by a web site that features your favorite cartoons.
9. Make it a point to learn at least one new thing each day: the name of a flower that grows in your garden, the capital of a far-off country, or the name of a piece of classical music you hear playing in your favorite clothing boutique as you shop. If it’s time for bed and you can’t identify anything you’ve learned that day, take out your dictionary and learn a new word.
10. Stop complaining for the next 100 days. A couple of years back, Will Bowen gave a purple rubber bracelet to each person in his congregation to remind them to stop complaining. “Negative talk produces negative thoughts; negative thoughts produce negative results”, says Bowen. For the next 100 days, whenever you catch yourself complaining about anything, stop yourself.
11. Set your alarm a minute earlier every day for the next 100 days. Then make sure that you get out of bed as soon as your alarm rings, open the windows to let in some sunlight, and do some light stretching. In 100 days you’ll be waking up an hour and forty minutes earlier than you’re waking up now.
12. For the next 100 days, keep Morning Pages, which is a tool suggested by Julia Cameron. Morning Pages are simply three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning.
13. For the next 100 days make it a point to feed your mind with the thoughts, words, and images that are most consistent with who you want to be, what you want to have, and what you want to achieve.
15. Scour the internet for frugality tips, choose ten of the tips that you find, and apply them for the next 100 days. Here are some possibilities:
16. For the next 100 days, pay for everything with paper money and keep any change that you receive. Then, put all of your change in a jar and see how much money you can accumulate in 100 days.
17. Don’t buy anything that you don’t absolutely need for 100 days. Use any money you save by doing this to do one of the following:
21. Identify one low-priority activity which you can stop doing for the next 100 days, and devote that time to a high priority task instead.
22. Identify five ways in which you regularly waste time, and limit the time that you’re going to spend on these activities each day, for the next 100 days. Here are three examples:
24. For the next 100 days, plan your day the night before.
25. For the next 100 days, do the most important thing on your To-Do list first, before you do anything else.
26. For the next 14 weeks, conduct a review of each week. During your weekly review, answer the following:
28. Make a list of all of the commitments and social obligations that you have in the next 100 days. Then, take out a red pen and cross out anything that does not truly bring you joy or help move you along the path to achieving your main life goals.
29. For the next 100 days, every time that you switch to a new activity throughout the day stop and ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time at this moment?”
31. For the next 100 days, eat five servings of vegetables every day.
32. For the next 100 days, eat three servings of fruit of every day.
33. Choose one food that constantly sabotages your efforts to eat healthier—whether it’s the decadent cheesecake from the bakery around the corner, deep-dish pizza, or your favorite potato chips—and go cold turkey for the next 100 days.
34. For the next 100 days, eat from a smaller plate to help control portion size.
35. For the next 100 days, buy 100% natural juices instead of the kind with added sugar and preservatives.
36. For the next 100 days, instead of carbonated drinks, drink water.
37. Create a list of 10 healthy, easy to fix breakfast meals.
38. Create a list of 20 healthy, easy to fix meals which can be eaten for lunch or dinner.
39. Create a list of 10 healthy, easy to fix snacks.
40. Use your lists of healthy breakfast meals, lunches, dinners, and snacks in order to plan out your meals for the week ahead of time. Do this for the next 14 weeks.
41. For the next 100 days, keep a food log. This will help you to identify where you’re deviating from your planned menu, and where you’re consuming extra calories.
42. For the next 100 days, get at least twenty minutes of daily exercise.
43. Wear a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps, every day, for the next 100 days. Every step you take during the day counts toward the 10,000 steps:
46. For the next 100 days, make it a daily ritual to mediate, breath, or visualize every day in order to calm your mind.
Your Relationship
47. For the next 100 days, actively look for something positive in your partner every day, and write it down.
48. Create a scrapbook of all the things you and your partner do together during the next 100 days. At the end of the 100 days, give your partner the list you created of positive things you observed about them each day, as well as the scrapbook you created.
49. Identify 3 actions that you’re going to take each day, for the next 100 days, in order to strengthen your relationship. These can include the following:
51. For the next 100 days, make it a point to associate with people you admire, respect and want to be like.
52. For the next 100 days, when someone does or says something that upsets you, take a minute to think over your response instead of answering right away.
53. For the next 100 days, don’t even think of passing judgment until you’ve heard both sides of the story.
54. For the next 100 days do one kind deed for someone every day, however small, even if it’s just sending a silent blessing their way.
55. For the next 100 days, make it a point to give praise and approval to those who deserve it.
56. For the next 100 days, practice active listening. When someone is talking to you, remain focused on what they’re saying, instead of rehearsing in your head what you’re going to say next. Paraphrase what you think you heard them say to make sure that you haven’t misinterpreted them, and encourage them to elaborate on any points you’re still not clear about.
57. Practice empathy for the next 100 days. If you disagree with someone, try to see the world from their perspective; put yourself in their shoes. Be curious about the other person, about their beliefs and their life experience, and about the thinking process that they followed to reach their conclusions.
58. For the next 100 days, stay in your own life and don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
59. For the next 100 days, place the best possible interpretation on the actions of others.
60. For the next 100 days, keep reminding yourself that everyone is doing the best that they can.
(Sunday Morning Still Life is courtesy of Pen Waggener).
I particularly like the go around the house and make note of the things you are tolerating, and SORT EM (oven door? your time has come).
On Thursday I am going to get done at People Who Do. Its all about making sure that all the things you set out to do, even, and especially if you never ever get around to them. And OH. Blimey I have just added 60 small things to that list. DOH!. actually. I am not interested in the whole 60. I don't watch tv or drink fizzy drinks, for example. But there are a few which I am going to run with. Some I have tried before, so hopefully that aint going to be too much of a struggle.
So my focus here will be on making sure I capture ALL the unfinished business, stuff that needs sorting, stuff I am only tolerating things out, and work my way through them... according to my PWD principles (to be learnt / experienced) on Thursday...
Decluttering (all part of my be more efficient and have less to tidy up plan - ongoing - (ongoing forever.....?!?!)
Being grateful. 5 things a day.
getting up 1 minute earlier every day (in conjunction with the getting Bub to go to sleep earlier plan)
tracking expenses (have been a wasteful fool of late, no more! no more!)
I like the idea of keeping a change pot for 100 days and seeing how much goes in it. I kind of do that already, so will definately do one of those.
Here goes with the gratitude
1. I have great hair (its really working for me the last couple of days. gotta appreciate that!)
2. I got some good opportunities to earn money to pay back our mortgage
3. got a roof over our heads and its a good one.
4. I have a beautiful necklace on
5. Hub is the kind of fellow who plays spaceships and landing on different imaginary planets with Bub for hours
Now to set the alarm clock. We had a respectable 7.50am this morning. 7.49. Lets see how that goes.
DO YOGA (no joke this NEEDS to be done. can't really believe am being such a slacker in this. I LOVE Yoga!)
and below is the cut n paste version. its too long I know.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to make drastic changes in order to notice an improvement in the quality of your life. At the same time, you don’t need to wait a long time in order to see the measurable results that come from taking positive action. All you have to do is take small steps, and take them consistently, for a period of 100 days.
Below you’ll find 60 small ways to improve all areas of your life in the next 100 days.
Home
1. Create a “100 Days to Conquer Clutter Calendar” by penciling in one group of items you plan to declutter every day, for the next 100 days. Here’s an example:- Day 1: Declutter Magazines
- Day 2: Declutter DVD’s
- Day 3: Declutter books
- Day 4: Declutter kitchen appliances
- If you take it out, put it back.
- If you open it, close it.
- If you throw it down, pick it up.
- If you take it off, hang it up.
- A burnt light bulb that needs to be changed.
- A button that’s missing on your favorite shirt.
- The fact that every time you open your top kitchen cabinet all of the plastic food containers fall out.
Happiness
4. Follow the advice proffered by positive psychologists and write down 5 to 10 things that you’re grateful for, every day.5. Make a list of 20 small things that you enjoy doing, and make sure that you do at least one of these things every day for the next 100 days. Your list can include things such as the following:
- Eating your lunch outside.
- Calling your best friend to chat.
- Taking the time to sit down and read a novel by your favorite author for a few minutes.
- How many times do you beat yourself up during the day?
- Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
- Are you constantly thinking critical thoughts of others?
- How many positive thoughts do you have during the day?
7. For the next 100 days, have a good laugh at least once a day: get one of those calendars that has a different joke for every day of the year, or stop by a web site that features your favorite cartoons.
Learning/Personal Development
8. Choose a book that requires effort and concentration and read a little of it every day, so that you read it from cover to cover in 100 days.9. Make it a point to learn at least one new thing each day: the name of a flower that grows in your garden, the capital of a far-off country, or the name of a piece of classical music you hear playing in your favorite clothing boutique as you shop. If it’s time for bed and you can’t identify anything you’ve learned that day, take out your dictionary and learn a new word.
10. Stop complaining for the next 100 days. A couple of years back, Will Bowen gave a purple rubber bracelet to each person in his congregation to remind them to stop complaining. “Negative talk produces negative thoughts; negative thoughts produce negative results”, says Bowen. For the next 100 days, whenever you catch yourself complaining about anything, stop yourself.
11. Set your alarm a minute earlier every day for the next 100 days. Then make sure that you get out of bed as soon as your alarm rings, open the windows to let in some sunlight, and do some light stretching. In 100 days you’ll be waking up an hour and forty minutes earlier than you’re waking up now.
12. For the next 100 days, keep Morning Pages, which is a tool suggested by Julia Cameron. Morning Pages are simply three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning.
13. For the next 100 days make it a point to feed your mind with the thoughts, words, and images that are most consistent with who you want to be, what you want to have, and what you want to achieve.
Finances
14. Create a spending plan (also known as a budget). Track every cent that you spend for the next 100 days to make sure that you’re sticking to your spending plan.15. Scour the internet for frugality tips, choose ten of the tips that you find, and apply them for the next 100 days. Here are some possibilities:
- Go to the grocery store with cash and a calculator instead of using your debit card.
- Take inventory before going to the grocery store to avoid buying repeat items.
- Scale back the cable.
- Ask yourself if you really need a landline telephone.
- Consolidate errands into one trip to save on gas.
16. For the next 100 days, pay for everything with paper money and keep any change that you receive. Then, put all of your change in a jar and see how much money you can accumulate in 100 days.
17. Don’t buy anything that you don’t absolutely need for 100 days. Use any money you save by doing this to do one of the following:
- Pay down your debt, if you have any.
- Put it toward your six month emergency fund.
- Start setting aside money to invest.
Time Management
19. For the next 100 days, take a notebook with you everywhere in order to keep your mind decluttered. Record everything, so that it’s safely stored in one place—out of your head—where you can decide what to do with it later. Include things such as the following:- Ideas for writing assignments.
- Appointment dates.
- To Do list items
- Transportation
- Housework
- Leisure
- Income-Generating Activities
21. Identify one low-priority activity which you can stop doing for the next 100 days, and devote that time to a high priority task instead.
22. Identify five ways in which you regularly waste time, and limit the time that you’re going to spend on these activities each day, for the next 100 days. Here are three examples:
- Watch no more than half-an-hour of television a day.
- Spend no more than half-an-hour each day on social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Stumbleupon.
- Spend no more than twenty minutes a day playing video games.
24. For the next 100 days, plan your day the night before.
25. For the next 100 days, do the most important thing on your To-Do list first, before you do anything else.
26. For the next 14 weeks, conduct a review of each week. During your weekly review, answer the following:
- What did you accomplish?
- What went wrong?
- What went right?
28. Make a list of all of the commitments and social obligations that you have in the next 100 days. Then, take out a red pen and cross out anything that does not truly bring you joy or help move you along the path to achieving your main life goals.
29. For the next 100 days, every time that you switch to a new activity throughout the day stop and ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time at this moment?”
Health
30. Losing a pound of fat requires burning 3500 calories. If you reduce your caloric intake by 175 calories a day for the next 100 days, you’ll have lost 5 pounds in the next 100 days.31. For the next 100 days, eat five servings of vegetables every day.
32. For the next 100 days, eat three servings of fruit of every day.
33. Choose one food that constantly sabotages your efforts to eat healthier—whether it’s the decadent cheesecake from the bakery around the corner, deep-dish pizza, or your favorite potato chips—and go cold turkey for the next 100 days.
34. For the next 100 days, eat from a smaller plate to help control portion size.
35. For the next 100 days, buy 100% natural juices instead of the kind with added sugar and preservatives.
36. For the next 100 days, instead of carbonated drinks, drink water.
37. Create a list of 10 healthy, easy to fix breakfast meals.
38. Create a list of 20 healthy, easy to fix meals which can be eaten for lunch or dinner.
39. Create a list of 10 healthy, easy to fix snacks.
40. Use your lists of healthy breakfast meals, lunches, dinners, and snacks in order to plan out your meals for the week ahead of time. Do this for the next 14 weeks.
41. For the next 100 days, keep a food log. This will help you to identify where you’re deviating from your planned menu, and where you’re consuming extra calories.
42. For the next 100 days, get at least twenty minutes of daily exercise.
43. Wear a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps, every day, for the next 100 days. Every step you take during the day counts toward the 10,000 steps:
- When you walk to your car.
- When you walk from your desk to the bathroom.
- When you walk over to talk to a co-worker, and so on.
- Your weight.
- Your percentage of body fat.
- Your waist circumference.
46. For the next 100 days, make it a daily ritual to mediate, breath, or visualize every day in order to calm your mind.
Your Relationship
47. For the next 100 days, actively look for something positive in your partner every day, and write it down.48. Create a scrapbook of all the things you and your partner do together during the next 100 days. At the end of the 100 days, give your partner the list you created of positive things you observed about them each day, as well as the scrapbook you created.
49. Identify 3 actions that you’re going to take each day, for the next 100 days, in order to strengthen your relationship. These can include the following:
- Say “I love you” and “Have a good day” to your significant other every morning.
- Hug your significant other as soon as you see each other after work.
- Go for a twenty minute walk together every day after dinner; hold hands.
Social
50. Connect with someone new every day for the next 100 days, whether it’s by greeting a neighbor you’ve never spoken to before, following someone new on Twitter, leaving a comment on a blog you’ve never commented on before, and so on.51. For the next 100 days, make it a point to associate with people you admire, respect and want to be like.
52. For the next 100 days, when someone does or says something that upsets you, take a minute to think over your response instead of answering right away.
53. For the next 100 days, don’t even think of passing judgment until you’ve heard both sides of the story.
54. For the next 100 days do one kind deed for someone every day, however small, even if it’s just sending a silent blessing their way.
55. For the next 100 days, make it a point to give praise and approval to those who deserve it.
56. For the next 100 days, practice active listening. When someone is talking to you, remain focused on what they’re saying, instead of rehearsing in your head what you’re going to say next. Paraphrase what you think you heard them say to make sure that you haven’t misinterpreted them, and encourage them to elaborate on any points you’re still not clear about.
57. Practice empathy for the next 100 days. If you disagree with someone, try to see the world from their perspective; put yourself in their shoes. Be curious about the other person, about their beliefs and their life experience, and about the thinking process that they followed to reach their conclusions.
58. For the next 100 days, stay in your own life and don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
59. For the next 100 days, place the best possible interpretation on the actions of others.
60. For the next 100 days, keep reminding yourself that everyone is doing the best that they can.
(Sunday Morning Still Life is courtesy of Pen Waggener).
Saturday, 13 August 2011
straight to positng
I can't find my wee notebook. here is a straight to posting.
I have been feeling a tad under the weather lately, I think its going around. However the main thing is that there is a feeling of drifting. Bub's bedtime is drifting later and later, I am faffing more and more, in general and there is this absolute lack of focus. And we. WE need some drive about the place or we are a little in trouble. I worked out that we OUGHT to be paying back our mortgage at approx £1350 a month. That shouldn't be impossible, and yet we are far far from it.
Sadly I cannot have any kind of sensible talk with my husband about this sort of thing. And besides he will just rant that I need to earn more money. Which I do. There is the People Who Do opportunity, which I utterly utterly want to make the most of. Like the dieter who cheats tho, I am currently looking around at the state of our house and thinking. JESUS how am I going to be the teacher of organisation and accelerated productivity!! I NEED TO GET MY ARSE IN GEAR! Not just that but if I am to be a YOGA teacher then I really need to be doing more YOGA.
Its all part of the muchness to a certain extent. And lets face it the day of "Being Done" by the "People Who Do" has something chaotic to work with. I HAVE GOALS ladies and gentlemen and while it has been delicious to just hang out and wallow in bed until, like 10.30am, with my Hub and my Bub. Its time to shake it up a little and use some of my precious time more deliberately.
On the plus side I AM finally getting to grips with the vast and unweildy RECEIPTS box, sorting them out into years and types and very soon I will be entering them in to my and Hub's accounting system.
SO some AIMS
Work out a time table to make sure I do 5 hours of home practice with my Yoga a week. (YUP!)
Start doing more portraits. Start with the Mondo Beyondo work and move onto Juliet Kay Portrait Party.
As per the wonderful Louise Gale chat I have some challenges -
1. distribute my flyers in kiddie friendly shops and cafes
2. investigate and make some decisions on presentation (mattes / celophane bags / sizes of portraits)
3. investigate Not on the High st requirements (have done this and they need to have presentation photos / lifestyle photos of portraits in situ.... so I do know what I need here.... and its part of the above)
Pay back £1300 on the mortgage each month. Aim to earn this (and more of course as need to eat and go on holidays!!)
And while am at it. Could do with eating and drinking a tad healthier. Go me!
I have been feeling a tad under the weather lately, I think its going around. However the main thing is that there is a feeling of drifting. Bub's bedtime is drifting later and later, I am faffing more and more, in general and there is this absolute lack of focus. And we. WE need some drive about the place or we are a little in trouble. I worked out that we OUGHT to be paying back our mortgage at approx £1350 a month. That shouldn't be impossible, and yet we are far far from it.
Sadly I cannot have any kind of sensible talk with my husband about this sort of thing. And besides he will just rant that I need to earn more money. Which I do. There is the People Who Do opportunity, which I utterly utterly want to make the most of. Like the dieter who cheats tho, I am currently looking around at the state of our house and thinking. JESUS how am I going to be the teacher of organisation and accelerated productivity!! I NEED TO GET MY ARSE IN GEAR! Not just that but if I am to be a YOGA teacher then I really need to be doing more YOGA.
Its all part of the muchness to a certain extent. And lets face it the day of "Being Done" by the "People Who Do" has something chaotic to work with. I HAVE GOALS ladies and gentlemen and while it has been delicious to just hang out and wallow in bed until, like 10.30am, with my Hub and my Bub. Its time to shake it up a little and use some of my precious time more deliberately.
On the plus side I AM finally getting to grips with the vast and unweildy RECEIPTS box, sorting them out into years and types and very soon I will be entering them in to my and Hub's accounting system.
SO some AIMS
Work out a time table to make sure I do 5 hours of home practice with my Yoga a week. (YUP!)
Start doing more portraits. Start with the Mondo Beyondo work and move onto Juliet Kay Portrait Party.
As per the wonderful Louise Gale chat I have some challenges -
1. distribute my flyers in kiddie friendly shops and cafes
2. investigate and make some decisions on presentation (mattes / celophane bags / sizes of portraits)
3. investigate Not on the High st requirements (have done this and they need to have presentation photos / lifestyle photos of portraits in situ.... so I do know what I need here.... and its part of the above)
Pay back £1300 on the mortgage each month. Aim to earn this (and more of course as need to eat and go on holidays!!)
And while am at it. Could do with eating and drinking a tad healthier. Go me!
the lucozade advert
They spent about 2 weeks making this advert on Albion Hill in Brighton. We walked past them many times, rolling down the hill...
Friday, 12 August 2011
oh I have so much to do
I really really need to catch up. I am so so far behind! its almost ridiculous.
But at the same time I am loving the feeling of being on holiday. Hub and Bub and I seem to spend about at least an hour in or on our bed in the mornings, playing, reading, telling stories. Its just so lovely that the whole get on and do stuff just is - well being shunted to the end of the day.
Today I did finally manage to start sorting through the receipts. Though I did spend a very thought heavey hour or so re sorting invoice numbers to include stuff I did for Ian's accounts - only to realise that the accounts for that year had already been submitted and besides the accountants had already allocated a better amount....anyway... at least the arduous process is started. Its all very confusing. At the end of the day as long as I send off as much information as I can, I think that the accountants make it all look about all right and make a call on it anyway.
I really really need to do a post about my chat with Louise Gale. Because she was absoloutely BRILLIANT. She has started doing creative coaching. And she was most definately worth it. Great chat with lots of really good outcomes. Apart from the generally lazy Sunday feel of my life right now, Louise gave me some most excellent pointers as to what I need to do next.....
Now I just have to actually DO them!
But at the same time I am loving the feeling of being on holiday. Hub and Bub and I seem to spend about at least an hour in or on our bed in the mornings, playing, reading, telling stories. Its just so lovely that the whole get on and do stuff just is - well being shunted to the end of the day.
Today I did finally manage to start sorting through the receipts. Though I did spend a very thought heavey hour or so re sorting invoice numbers to include stuff I did for Ian's accounts - only to realise that the accounts for that year had already been submitted and besides the accountants had already allocated a better amount....anyway... at least the arduous process is started. Its all very confusing. At the end of the day as long as I send off as much information as I can, I think that the accountants make it all look about all right and make a call on it anyway.
I really really need to do a post about my chat with Louise Gale. Because she was absoloutely BRILLIANT. She has started doing creative coaching. And she was most definately worth it. Great chat with lots of really good outcomes. Apart from the generally lazy Sunday feel of my life right now, Louise gave me some most excellent pointers as to what I need to do next.....
Now I just have to actually DO them!
Monday, 8 August 2011
london's burning
I was going to post some really lovely pictures of our really wonderful camping weekend. But suddenly the UK has gone mad. Children have taken to the streets in a violent fashion and are looting everywhere and setting fire to everything. the police are hiding, as far as I can make out and hoodies are literally running riot. Its like some kind of crazy scenario from some future doomsday fiction. This lady from Hackney sums it up. As do the blazing buildings and the tweet that reported the looters opening and drinking their looted champagne...
its proper f*ckedup
its proper f*ckedup
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
and we're off
rain is of course forecast, but we are used to that. it seems to happen every year. I just love eating out doors with friends. more than anything to me, eating out of doors with friends and family signifies deep joy. its a symbol of all I aspire to in my happiest moments. even if it rains (which is not the ideal scenario lets face it) I will love it.
And we are ALL going. This is a family thing!! hurrah! And I have friends from all walks of my life coming, from old school friends to recent Brighton pals. Hub has friends coming, and Bub has friends coming. All is well. And good.
So right now, I am going to park the rest of my life. Bring on Summer and Bring on eating out side in good company. (some photos from Last Year) xx
Monday, 1 August 2011
summer is here
I am so so happy to have sunshine. My toes are painted and are out! I always know its summer when my toes come out, as in flip flops or sandals. I feel the cold very easily in my tootsies so its only when its proper warm that they come out.
Things are ticking along quite nicely at the moment. Just had a catch up meeting with People Who Do. I have yet to go through their process. I have read the Getting Things Done book and kind of half implemented it, sort of. But further to the conversation today, I am hanging off the implementation of it so that I can experience the process of doing it. Thing is to do it, requires a day. And getting a day is hard for me, unless I am out of the house.
And this week we are all going camping. Hurrah! I love camping. A whole bunch of us, old friends and new, a mixture of my friends and Hubs friends too. Double hurrah!
I think that eating outside with friends in warm weather is my ultimate good times thing to do.
Things are ticking along quite nicely at the moment. Just had a catch up meeting with People Who Do. I have yet to go through their process. I have read the Getting Things Done book and kind of half implemented it, sort of. But further to the conversation today, I am hanging off the implementation of it so that I can experience the process of doing it. Thing is to do it, requires a day. And getting a day is hard for me, unless I am out of the house.
And this week we are all going camping. Hurrah! I love camping. A whole bunch of us, old friends and new, a mixture of my friends and Hubs friends too. Double hurrah!
I think that eating outside with friends in warm weather is my ultimate good times thing to do.
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